Container and closure construction



June 12, 1951 C. D. MAGNESEN CONTAINER AND CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 20, 1950 INVENTOR.

(mom-Es 0. flaw/Assn BY lyrrakzvtx Patented June 12, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in the construction of containers and covers therefor; My invention relates more particularly to the construction of a can and cover for paint or similar materials whereby the cover is removable and replaceable and yet, whenever replaced, capable of providing an effective sealing closure for the paint can.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved construction of paint can, or similar container, and a cover for the same of the type which is removable and replaceable and which will always provide an effective 'seal for the opening in the paint can when the 4 cover is replaced.

A further object of the invention is to provide 7 a paint can or similar container, and a cover for the same of such construction that a tapered or funnel-shaped opening will be provided in the container, so that paint or other material therein can be easily poured from the same and the entire contents of the container may be emptied therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paint can, or similar container, having a cover of the type described that is comparatively simple in construction yet highly effective as a sealing medium and capable of long and hard usage without becoming broken or out of order.

In using the aforementioned container and.

"closures for paint or similar materials, after the filling operation they are closed and frequently stacked in columns, perhaps ten high, and remain in storage a considerable length of time.

Since the gasket which forms the seal is usually formed of rubber or some similar synthetic or plastic material, it can be seen that the weight of nine filled containers on the lower container would compress the gasket of the lower container that its use for resealing would be definitely destroyed.- Accordingly, I have provided a construction whereby the weight of the column of containers is taken by the containers, themselves, instead of the sealing gasket. This may be accomplished by means of a plurality of shoulders provided in the neck of the container with the construction shown therein and after thorough experiment and trial before production on a large commercial basis certain defects, while not too serious nevertheless warranted further development to secure more nearly perfect construction. For example, it was discovered that the peripheral edge of the retainer ring as shown in the above application was extremely difficult to construct in quantity with uniform results. Due to its wide skirt or inward flange portion it was found to be difiicult to keep the inner edge of the same constant as in handling it was easily bent or distorted. In addition, in sealing position the edge is spaced away from the cover of the container so that dust, dirt and other sediment easily accumulated under the ledge causing an unsightly appearance and causing doubt in the minds of prospective customers as to the sealing qualities of the construction.

The improved structure which I provide eliminates the objections above referred to and has in addition certain important advantages thereover.

One of the advantages resides in the provision of a seal between the container and closure which has the double function of acting both as a pressure and vacuum seal.

Another advantage is in the strengthening of the shoulder which carries the weight of superimposed containers the shoulder being rolled inwardly instead of outwardly, thereby greatly inincreasing its effective load supporting qualities.

Another advantage is in the improved appearance of the combination, the container and closure, in that viewed from the top the closing line between the cover and retainer ring presents an unbroken straight line, easily visible and indicating a seal as well as actually effecting one.

Other advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawing upon which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a container and closure with a portion of the container and closure means broken away in cross-section to more clearly show details thereof tainer III which may have a bottom wall l2 secured thereto, by rolling or otherwise, and a top or neck portion l4.

The top of the container may have a neck portion which is rolled over the upper edge of the container [0 and an inwardly tapered portion 22 terminating at an edge 24 from which a portion 26 is tapered outwardly to form a groove in the neck of the top. The top also has a mouth portion 28 continuing upwardly and bent back upon itself at its upper edge.

With this construction, I have provided an inwardly directed pouring spout for the container which permits the entire contents of the container to be drained out when.it.-is:tilted. The type of mouth which I have provided is also desirable for the purpose of mixing paints-in 'the container since all parts of vthe ,interior .of the container are accessible by means of this construction.

The cover 30 which Iprovide is formed with a zcircularsridge 32 about its-periphery, the ridge :having a plurality of downwardly :depending ifinger members 134. Azcircular gasket G of rubber, synthetic rubbenrplastic or other suitable material having a compressibility is adapted: to be positioned in the groove 33 formed inthe lower side. of ridge 32. The finger members 34 each .havea ridge 36intermediate their endswith the .lower ends of l the same curled inwardlyas-shown in'38. This is'for the purpose of effecting-a looking grip on the top of thecontainer as more' clear- .ly described in the aforementioned co-pending application.

Iprovide a retaineriring 40 toseal thecover in place on the mouth of the container, the ring being provided with a rolled up loweredge 42.-and a downwardly and inwardly turned rolled edge 44at its=top. Whenthe retainer ringis pressed down over the cap 30, the ridges ontheiingers 34 are pressed intothe groove 4| inthetop of the container. .The action of distorting the ridges 36 ofthelfingers .34 and forcing the ridges;3;8 into the groove 4| tends to force the surface 3] ofthe top 30outwardly into anarcuate bulgepasshown infig. 1, when-the cover is in placerandthe re- 1.

tainer ring is holding it in a sealing position. When the retainer ring 40 is removed, the.fingers 3.4 can'be slightly sprung outwardly by pressing the surface at of the cap downwardlytoform an inwardly directedarcuate bulge. In this way, the cover can be lifted from the mouth of the container.

Referring now'to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it 'can be seen that when a plurality of containers ID are superimposed one upon the other the bottoms will rest on the tops of the lower retainer rings 40. Since, in the position shown :in Fig. 3, "the closure is in a sealingposition and since further downward movement. such as from a heavy weight would only press the mouth portion 28 further through the sealing gasketG, -I have provided-a plurality of shoulders 56 about -the,periphery of the mouth portion 22 of .the top |4.0f the container. With this construction the gasket can only be compressed to a specific distance, thus 6 keeping the gaskets resilient even though a col- .sired to packinea vacuum. container.

"line sealing contact which cannot be distorted norzbentrout-of shape when the retaining ring is removed or during manufacture. In addition, the

appearance of the container and closure is such zthatitaddsinherently to the attractiveness of the same and dirt, dust or other sediment cannot enter or appear to enter between the line contact of the retaining ring and the ridge on the cover 0f the container.

WhileI'have illustrated and described aspecific embodiment of the invention, it will be. apparent to those skilled-in-the art that changes and modificationsmay'bemade in theexact detailsshown. ;I do-not-wish tobe limited in any particular; rather what .I desire .to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

A container-and closure for paintor similar substances, said .container having a cylindrical top of a diametersmallerthan thediameter of the-containen'a tapered throat insaid top, a groove :labout the neck of said top spaced away from the open-end thereof and-a closure member adapted to fit over the open end of said top,said closure memberhaving a circular shoulder having a'grocve therein into which the neck of said top-is positioned,,a.zcompressible gasket in said groove, a plurality of downwardly depending fingers-extending below the edge of said neck and a retainer ring which, when'positioned over said-cover, fastens the curled overedges of said fingers into said groove to seal said coveron said container, the'closure .member being so constructed thatin a sealing position the same is flexed outwardly between said circular groove,

and-whenthe retainer ring is removed, the closure member is flexed inwardly to spread the fingers to permit the easy removal of the same, means associated with the neckof said container for preventing complete .compressing of said gasket, .said means comprising .a plurality of equally .spaced ledgeembossments struck outwardly from the neckand the .upper edge of said retainer ring .terminatinginan inwardly curled bead, the lower .edge oflsaid bead effecting line .contacton top 'of .the shoulder of the closure member.

CHARLES D. MAGNESEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inlthe file- .of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Magnesen Feb. 15, 1949 Number 

